candlebug

I think you should continue to ask God for advice and not ask for advice here from experienced chandlers that are trying to caution you on safety and testing. I also will pray to God that your customers stay safe.

I agree with Bruce 110%. I have seen some soy candle makers demonstrate these claims and dipping their fingers in a lighted candle and quite frankly they are asking for lawsuits. I understand that one state agency is looking into this practice not only from not listing the ingredients on the candle and health violations from using it on the skin to the fire safety issues of people dipping fingers into a lighted candle. The concern of how a child will view Mommy dipping her fingers in a lighted candle and smearing the wax on her skin and the child thinking "I can do it too and be like Mommy". Can we say disaster here? I hope I never hear about a child catching their clothing on fire or worse from this.

Same here as Candlebuddy. I used the 8 oz wide mouth mason jars before my current jar and I still use them just to scent test fragrance samples. These jars have been used over and over again and I have found that the bottom of the jar has over time become raised and rounded (like a bubble forming) due to the heat and use. This alone tells me not to do refills for the stress the glass takes. Taking glasses to refill, you don't know how many times this container has been refilled either by you or someone else. Why take a chance on the stress breaking the jar and a customer coming back on you to for damages to their property. Not worth it in IMO. By telling them that they are responsible it the glass breaks when you do refills won't hold up incourt.

I was asked to show my swirled container candle technique. I won the container class at the 2006 IGCA convention in Oklahoma City in July with one. hehe just scared I will drop something, say like dye on the floor. :embarasse

I can't wait either but nervous too, hehe. I am working on my demonstration for the convention and I feel I rushing through it and it will be too short by talking too fast.

LOL, but I guess a fragrance oil that is chemically made is "natural" and what is bad they don't realize that statement is such baloney at all.

Got a question on this recipe..Will the high percentage of Shea butter cause DOS in the hot summer months or is this a winter recipe? I tried this CP and it was so good but was wondering for the summer. Thanks!

/clap Totally agree with you Tess on the scare tatics!

Well, catching up on this thread has been some enlightening reading, lol. Isbennis and other soy chandlers, I do have a question, How can you promote candles as soy when they have 30% or more parrafin in them? Call a spade a spade, but I tell my customers they are parasoy, the best of both worlds. Quoting the hype and all about soy then using parrafin in "soy candles" just doesn't ring truthful to me. The "Natural Soy Candles" line I hear from local soy chandlers does make me laugh as it is NOT natural after you add fragrance oil. To me that is not being honest to the public. Just the way I see it.

Hmmm, better for me to say "What the heck is NOT in my pots this weekend?" Parasoy blend in the big melter, votive wax in a presto, embed wax in another presto, gel wax in another, 6228 in another and...heck whats in the last pot?!?!? hehe

Great information Dean!

When you add a fragrance oil (a synthetic chemical compound) I would be hesitant to call this a "natural candle". But that is me

Wow Michael!! I must say you have found your niche in candles! Awesome work! I will be able to brag soon that I was there and knew Michael when he first started doing cut and carve and how I was with him at the IGCA convention where he learned the process!! Very proud you!! Now for the obvious plug for the IGCA conventions. Join up and come to next year's convention, you will learn so much. Just lookie at what Mikey learned!

Well just to post my experience with DIY..I emailed them from their site a couple of months ago about their services as I was very interested. Never received a response, was disappointed a bit and so I went on my merry way to another host. With no response after 2 attempts, I figured they didn't need my business and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

I wanted to take that class but there were other classes I wanted to take so I opted for the all the classes I could attend.

Same here, I got kicked off too and then went to her website and resubmitted my email for the newsletter and nada. Guess she doesn't need my money, lol :rolleyes2

Michael, Those look great! Is that with John's system he was showing there and selling? Glad you are having a blast making them.

Tekla, I just had one that got some dents in it but I had lots of bubble wrap that I came with. It was so much fun learning different things and techiques! Micheal is one of a kind and so funny! During the auction he was bidding on so much stuff and he was making me giggle with his bids and comments! I was so wore out toward the end of the auction, being a runner, but it was fun!

The IGCA (International Guild of Candle Artisans) convention in Oklahoma City was fantastic! I highly recommend that everyone make the attempt to go next July to the convention in Boise, Idaho! I met Teklacreations and The DallasDean and I am sure I met others but didn't know their name here. The workshops were great and when you pay the participation fee, you get to make and keep the workshop project. I signed up for every time slot that was available and learned so much. Things to get to working on now at home and some new ideas on equipment to use that will save time was the most valuable to me. There were vendors there too that support the IGCA and they were giving talks and samples of their products. Also there was a vendor night in which you look, sniff and purchase items. It was great to see the faces behind the voices I have talked to. The IGCA also has a competition that I was hesitant to enter and my son finally talked me into entering. He pointed out that the judges will critique my candles and I can find out how well I am doing or what I need to revamp to come up to standard. There were 79 candles entered into the contest classes and there were so many great ideas and methods used. You keep your candles under wraps and no one sees any entries until you are called in by the competition chairman. As I was waiting my turn to enter, nervous and wondering what in the world I was doing among candlemakers that had years of experience on me, my turn was up! I stood up and took a step toward the exit door, thinking I have to get out of here and forget this, but I turned back and entered the closed booth and entered 3 classes, Scented Votives, Externally Decorated Candles and Candles made in Containers. The judging was that night and the next day after lunch the competitors could go in and see the entries and pick up the judge’s score cards. The first class was the votive class and I won a first place blue ribbon with a score of 98! The next class I had entered the Externally Decorated, my chocolate covered brownie with an ice cream scoop won a first place blue ribbon with a score of 96! I was shaking with shock and then walked to the container class, which was the biggest class I think, I had another first place blue ribbon and best of class, a 100 score! I lost it there, crying and so ecstatic that I did so well and in my first competition! I do recommend that everyone try to come to the next convention to learn and compete. The IGCA works very hard on promoting safety, techniques and they believe in sharing and teaching. I can’t say enough complements on this Guild and how they work with each other and their members. I want to thank the board, the host and co host of the Oklahoma City convention on making it a lifetime memory! Adding photos finally! Thanks JulieK for taking these pictures!

"Reduce the dependency on crude oil". It takes 5 times more petroleum to power the machines to produce 1 pound of soy wax than it does 1 pound of paraffin. This is not what I would see as reducing the dependency of crude oil.

Check out Wick's Wares 5 pound pour pot. I just got one of these and I love it. I can do a dozen candles now instead of 8 using the regular 4 pound pour pot as i couldn't control the wax flow as it was heavy. It has a ring handle on the side, that can get hot so use something to grab it with, and the pot makes a small steady stream while you are pouring. Big plus it doesn't drip! I am getting more of these! http://wickswares.safeshopper.com/4/cat4.htm?114

Tucker, Go to Wal Mart and get a cleaner called De-Solv-it. It is very slick when you spray it on the floor but just follow the directions. It removes candle wax, tree sap, wet oily paint, tar, gum and a lot more. HTH

Check out Wick's Wares, they have a great pallet price and if you are anywhere close to them they will drive to meet you for a small fee and that will save you on shipping. Dan Ware has done that for me.

The message board is disabled and no updates on the website since last year. Was hoping someone might know something on when it may be held? Thanks